Talking to the owners of the newly reopened The Standard Inn last Sunday afternoon was impossible: the pub was heaving. So I tried again the next evening, when it was a little quieter.
As many locals will know, the Standard in The Mint has been closed for about 18 months. It reopened a week or so ago [November 13], under new management. The new team is Tim Brown, Claudia Brown and Rajh Siva.
Claudia’s father Peter Bacon ran The Mermaid for a couple of years about 40 years ago. Claudia came to Rye with her family on visits and, like many visitors, fell in love with the town.
The draft beers include Young’s Bitter, Courage Directors and Old Dairy Brewery beers. The new team’s intention is to serve food each day at lunchtime and evening. The daily – changing – menu uses produce from local suppliers and has both vegetarian and fish options. Plus puddings.
The pub has been renovated and some original 15th-century features can now be seen. These include old brickwork and an original support post that has lots of carving, including the Cinque Ports symbol with three half lions and half ships and Rye spelt as Rie.
On one wall is an old photo of The Standard Inn with the Swan Inn next door. The Swan closed as a pub in 1906. This photo looks to be late 19th century. One feels that the old clients are still there when it is a quiet evening. What would they think of the latest reincarnation?
Photos: Ray Prewer